_________Catsy

_________Costume Stats

Character Name: Catsy (Coan in the Japanese version)
Series: Sailor Moon R
Specifics: main outfit
Cost: about $200
Time: a very very very long time ><;;
Started: January 2004
Completed: May 2004
Worn: Anime North 2004, mBrosia concert

_________Reference

_________Information

For Anime North 2004, I was performing group called mBrosia. This year, it was decided we'd be performing as Sailor Moon villainesses. For a bunch of reasons, I ended up choosing Catsy from Sailor Moon R. And so I went about making the tackiest costume ever known. No really, the costume consists of a pink bodysuit with purple pinstripes, a giant purple tutu and a wig of doom.

I debated weather or not to make the body suit myself, and after realizing that my sewing machine hates spandex and that I'd most likely rip a steam while dancing if I made it myself, I started searching for places that sold bodysuits like the one I needed in a pale ballet pink. I finally found a place in New York that sold custom made bodysuits exactly like the one I needed. Amanda took my measurements and a lot of money and a month later, the bodysuit arrived and fit like a glove. ^^ Now came the hard parts.

Putting the stripes on the bodysuit was a challenge. I originally wanted to use fabric or ribbon, but sewing something like that onto spandex so that you can still move isn't really a possibility at my skill level. So Amanda suggested using paint. We went out and got purple fabric ink and then after crossing a ton of roadblocks, we started painting the bodysuit. Well, I needed to be wearing it while it was painted, so Amanda kindly skipped school for a few days (eheheheheh... sorry Amanda! ^^;) to help me with it. She basically masking-taped off a line, then painted it, waited for it to dry, and then repeated the process for every single line. It took forever. I pity Amanda since it's hard for me to sit still. She must've told me to not move at least a hundred times. ^^;;;

I sewed the color and the cuffs onto the body suit by hand so that they'd stretch properly. They took a few hours if you included the snaps on the cuffs. I painted a plastic red rose black and sewed it to the color as well.

The shoes weren't as bad as they could've been. In some images, her shoes have these funky spiky things on them. In other images, she's just wearing normal purple high-heeled shoes. I didn't choose the plainer version because it was easier, but because during our performance, I'd need to be able to do moves that would crush the spikes. So the simpler version it was. I went out and bought a pair of used high heels that I could dance in, and then used fabric paint to paint them purple to match my costume. They also had a funky system of elastics sewed into them to keep them on my feet.

The wig was a challenge and a half. I ordered in the purple wig a few months in advance and it was perfect for Catsy. I shaped two styrofoam cones and painted them this purple-blackish color. I then poked holes through them and fed a bit of the hair through the holes. This hair helped hold them in place. I then took hair from the front parts of the wig and twisted, then coiled them around the styrofoam to make her funky hairstyle. I wish I didn't have to use hot glue, but it turned out well, so I guess I can't complain. ^^ The wig also had four wig clips sewed into it to hold it onto my head and keep it from falling off. I can do a backflip wearing it without fearing it flying off. ^^

The jewel is actually three parts. I bought a jewel, but it was too small and rectangle shaped. Catsy's jewel is diamond shaped so I made a diamond shaped base for it out of fimo, glued them together, and painted them black. I used some old nail polish to give it the purple-tint it needed. The silver backing to the jewel was also made out of fimo and then painted silver. I made little bead-like holes in the back of the jewel that I used to sew the jewel to the wig. I used spirit gum to cement the jewel to my forehead and keep it from moving. The crescent moon on my forehead was painted on with black eyeliner.

The gold part of the earrings were also made of fimo and then painted gold. The jewel part of the earrings are made out of funky beads I found at a fabric store and painted black. They earrings are clip-ons since only one of my ears is pierced.

As for the tutu, it's a mix of stuff. It's mostly made out of two different shades of purple crinilin. The first two layers were think and bulk to give the rest of the skirt body. The middle layers give the tutu shape and fill it in. The top layers are thin and cut up jaggedly to give the look of Catsy's tutu... which is really more of a weird thing that she wears around her waist than an actual tutu. ><; Ah well. There are also long purple feathers sewn in the tutu to give the full effect. I sewed snaps onto the tutu and the body suit. This way, it snaps into place and doesn't fall off while I'm dancing.

Although it was time consuming, Catsy's costume was a lot of fun to make. I'm very happy it came out so well. ^^

This doesn't change the fact that it's extremely tacky. If you lack self-confidence, do yourself a favor and don't make this particular outfit. And one piece of advice to anyone planning to make this costume: Don't. It'll kill you. ><;

_________In Progress

_________Misc

I wore this costume on the Friday and Sunday of Anime North 2004. I was surprised at how well the costume went over. I wasn't expecting anyone to recognize me, but I was stopped every three feet for photos. I also got a bunch of compliments. ^^

I still can't I made and wore it. Ah well. 'Twas worth it. ^^

As for our performances, they went really well, and the costume held out beautifully and looked good on stage. ^^ Yay!

_________Images

Anime North 2004




mBrosia Concert




Random